Street-car fender.



'Nm 772,965. v PATENTED OCT. 25, 19o/r-` E.H. SGHULZE.\

STREET CAR FENDER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 8, 1904.

N0-MODEL. 3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

fyi'

No. 772,965. PATENTED OCT. 25, 1904. E. H.. SGHULZE.'

STREET CAR FENDER. A APPLIOATIOH FILED JUNE a, 1904. No loam.. s sHEETs-sHEET 2,

PATBNTBD 00T. 25, 1904.`

E. H. SGHULZR lSTREET GAR FENDER.

AAPPLICATION' FILED JUNiE 8, 1904.

3 SHEHTSj-SHEBT 3.

No Mom-1L.

soia/ 2,9651

v UNITED STATES Iiaten'ted October 2x5, 1904. i

ERNESI H. SCHULZE, OEKANSAS CITY, MISSOURI. l i

STREET-CAR FENDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of`Iietters Patent No. 772,965, dated October 25, 1904.

'Application led June 8, 1904. Serial No. 211,681. (No model.) i

To a/ZZ whom t may concern: i

. of part of the trip-frame and guard. Figs. 9 and 10 are detail perspective views 4of parts Be it known that I, ERNEST H. SCHULZE, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas' City, in the county of Jackson and State of Mis-- souri,have invented certain new and useful Improvements 1n Street-Car Fenders, of which vthe following is a specification.

My invention relates to street-car fenders ofthat type which are adapted to be set to pick up an object from the trackway automatically.

durable, com pact, and comparatively ineXpensive construction.

With these objects in view the invention consists in certain novel and peculiar features of construction 'and combinations of parts, as hereinafter described and claimed, and in order that it may be fully understood reference is to be had to the. accompanying drawings, in which f Figure lis a top plan View ofY a street-,car

equipped with a fender embodying my inven-l tion, said fender being disposed in normal position, and therefore ready to be set. auto` matically on striking an object or through the action of the motorman.- Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line II II of Fig. 1. Eig. 3 isa section on the line III III of Fig. l, but with the fender set and ready to pick up an object from the track. Fig; 4 is a front view of the car withthe fender folded to inoperative position. Eig.. isa side view 0f the same. Fig. 6 is a sectional perspective view of one ofthe side bars of the pick-up frame. tail perspective v iew of'part of the trip-frame platform.' Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view hereinafter described.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein Fig. 7 is adelV `like reference characters'refer to corresponding `parts throughout the several views, 1 designates a platform of an electric or other streetcar, and 2 longitudinal stringers underlying thesame. Y

3 designates a pair of plates secured permanentlyin the upper side of the end or bumper portion of the. platform and each provided with an upwardly-projecting pin 4: and an up* wardly-projecting turn-button 5.

6 designates a pair Ofangle-plates so disposed that their upper arms shall rest horizontally' on plates 3 and provided with holes 7, engaging pins I and longitudinal slots '8, through which the turn-buttons project, said buttons being turned longitudinally when the angle-platesare fitted in position and then turned to extend transversely of said slots to sov prevent the accidentaldislocation of the angleplates.

9 designates a pair of angle-plates inverted with respect to the first-named angle-plates,

so that their` horizontal arms shall project rearwardly. under the bumper, and said angleplates have their vertical arms hinged to-v gether, as at, 10, the horizontal arms terminating in parallel ears 11, provided with one or more apertures 12, pivot-bolt 13 extending throughone of said apertures 12 of each angleplate 9. .Y v

14. designates side bars, which are preferably cylindrical in form and tubular, and screwed in the rear ends of said side bars-are pins 15, flattened vertically at their'rear ends and pivotally mounted on bolts 13 between ears 11. I

v16 designatespins screwed inthe front ends of sidey bars 1,4 and provided in their upper sides lwith recesses 17 and terminating forward ofsaid recesses in-lugs 18, the recessed portion having one or more vertical threaded holes 19 and each lug 18 a transverse hole 20. 21 designates a fiat cross-bar havingk its ends fitted and screwrbolted in recesses 17, the screw-bolts engaging the holes 19, and2l a bar overlying bar 21. 22 designates a crossbar connecting the side bars rearward of bar 21, and 23 a series of longitudinal plates riveted attheir opposite ends to the under sides of bars 21 and 22, said side bars, bars 21, 21,

22, and 23 constituting, in conjunction with 1 this connection it will be noticed that to prothe rubber-covered roller 24, having its ends journaled in holes 20, what I term the pickl, up frame of the fender.

25 is a cross-bar secured to side-bars 14 by i caps 26 just rearward ot' bar 22, and 27 represents longitudinal bars mounted at their rear ends on bar 25 and extending` forwardly and below the pick-up frame, lateral movement of the rear ends of said bars being prevented by running them through notches 28 in the rear edge of bar 22, as shown clearly in Fig. 1. Said bars 27 are twisted, as at 29, so that their front ends may tit Hatly against and be bolted, as at 30, to the under side of bar 2l, and said bars terminate in loops 31, which encircle the roller 24 and form auxiliary bearings to prevent said roller being bent by striking and rolling under aheavy object on the trackway. To sustain largely the weight of the fender and of any object carried upon the same, so as to maintain the roller 24 slightly above the trackway when the fender is in operative position, 1 provide a roller 32, connecting and journaled at its ends in bars 27, and said roller is connected by the cross-belt 33 with roller 24, so that when roller 33 is turned in the direct-ion indicated by the arrow, Fig. 3, through its contact with the trackway roller 24 shall be revolved more rapidly in the opposite direction, as also indicated in said Fig. 8 by the contiguous arrow. this opposite rotation of roller 24 tending to move and slide the object engaged rearward upon the fender, as will be readily understood. The cross-belt is kept out of contact with the trackway as far as practicable by the guide-loop 34, depending from bar 21, said guide-loop being shown most clearly in Fig. 4, and in vide for the proper operation of the crossbelt and yet have the roller 24 almost in contact with the front edge of bar 21 the latter is recessed, as at 35, in its front edge for the passage of said belt. It will also be noticed that bar 21a is maintained reliably upon bar 21 by slitting the rear edge of the former to form tongues and then bending said tongues forward under bar 21 so as to constitute hooks 37, interlocked with bar 21. By this arrangement it will`be apparent that the disengagement of bar 22 from bars 14 permits the platform portion of the pick-up frame to be in-` stantly removed, which of course is of decided advantage should repairs thereon or on any part covered by the same be necessary.

38 is a hook engaging cross-bar 25 and attached for pivotal operation in a vertical plane to a plate 39, carried at the front end of the retractile spring 40, a similar plug 41 at the rear end of the spring being pivoted to a bolt 42, secured to one of the sills 2 of the car, said spring serving to hold the fender yieldiugly in the position shown in Figs. l to 3, inclusivcmthat is` with the angle-plates 9 thrown back against the bumper.

A U-shaped swing-frame comprises a crossrod 43 and parallel and preferably llallened arms 44, the latter being pivoted on cross-bar 25. designates a pair of links provided with keyhole-slots 46, pivotally mounted at their widest ends on rod 43, said links having the keyhole-slots in order to permit the links to be slipped onto the rod over the flattened arms of the latter in an obvious manner, though, of course, this special formation of the links is unimportant. The links are pivotallyconnected by chains 47 to the vertical hooks 4S, said hooks having threaded stems 49, extending up through plates 50, bolted to and projecting forwardly beyond the bumper into the platform-nuts 51, engaging said threaded stems of the hooks and resting on said plates, so as to sustain the fender a suitable distance above thctrackway when the tri p-frame, hereinafter referred to, is advanced.

Projecting rigidly from the swing-frame and rearwardly when the latter is in the position just describedis a crank 52, and attached to said crank is a cable 525, which extends forwardly under the U-frame, thence upwardly over a pulley 54, liournaled on cross-bar 25, and rearwardly therefrom, terminating in a loop 55, engaging a snap-hook 56, carried at the front end of a cable 57, extending rearwardly through a stationary guide-frame 58 pendent from the car-frame, said cable 5T also extending around a guide-pulley 5S, suitably supported from the car-frame, thence upwardly through opening 59 in the platform to a hand-ring GO incapable. of passing through said opening 59.

61 designates a transverse crank-shaft journaled in bars 27 and provided centrally with a cam or enlargement 62 and at one end by preference with a depending crank j), connected to the front end of a cable ($4, equipped at its rear end with a snap-hook (35, engaging a hook 66 at the free end of cable (3T, which cable, like cable 57, extends around guidepulley 58L and up through the j)latform-opening 59 and is attached at its upper end to said ring (SO. Said crank-shaft has its cranks (18 normally projecting upward and forward through the skeleton platform of the pick-up frame and carry at their upper ends a crossrod 69, upon which is pivotally mounted for operation in a vertical planel a trip-frame, the same comprising longitudinal bars Td, connected near their rear ends by the cross-bar 71 and at their front ends'by the cross-bar 72, projecting laterally the. full width of the pick-up frame and terminating in rearwal'dlyprojecting arms 73, which overlap said pickup frame.

74 designates a pair of collars secured on the cross-bar of the U-frame and flanking the lOO lforwardly-projecting catch A orA hook 75, .piv-

oted on said cross-bar', said hook .normally fitting over the crank-shaft 6l and upon the v'cam 62 thereof. and forward of said shaft.

or otherwise'secured at its front end to the under side of cross-bar 21.

` 78 designates a link pivot'ed to cross-rod 69, and 79 a cable attached to said linkat its front end and at its rear end to a similar link 80,

engaging a snap-hook 81, carried at the front" end of a cable`82, underlying the swing-frame andattached at its rear end to the lower end of a lever 83, pivoted, as at 84, to thecarl I frame and Aprovided with a forwardly-projecting arm 85, lpressed upwardly by the spring '86, secured to the-car-frame against the lower end of a depressible foot-rod 87, projecting up through the platform, said rod being mounted in a suitable guide 88, attached to the car-frame, as shown clearly in Fig. 2.

' 89 is an angle-plate bolted to one of the bars 27 and projecting outwardly from and above the samev below the juxtaposed crank 68 of shaft 61, so as to limity the forward rotation of said shaft and prevent the trip-frame being projected too far beyond the pick-up frame.

A guard to prevent the person or other object picked up by' the fender from being in.

jured by striking against the bumper of the car consists, preferably, of a series of upright bars 90, connected by a series of transverse,

bars 91, two of the bars 90 by'preferencc being pivoted by caps 92`on cross-bar 25, and

- the lowerportions of said caps 92, as shown* said guard is prevented from swinging back beyond a vertical plane by stop-.lugs 93, projecting outwardly from bars 27 in the path of most clearly in Fig. 3, and the-guard is prevented from'falling forward upon the pick-up frame by means of the hook 94, pivoted for movement in a vertical plane to a rearwardlyj projecting lug 95 of the guard and engaging a rearwardly-disposed hook 96 of the bumper. 97 designates a hook provided with aslot 98, tting upon lug 95 and held thereon by the hook 94 and adapted for a purpose hereinafter explained, and 99 designates a forwardly-projectinghook pivoted for movement in a vertical plane to the bracket 100 of the bumper for a purpose which is also hereinafter explained.

During the ordinary travel of the carl i 'equipped with this fender the latter occupies the lposition shown clearly in Fig. 2. Should the motorman consider it advisable to drop *the fender because of imminent danger to a person on the trackhe depresses foot-rod 87 with 'his foot, which action' overcomes the y resistance of spring 86 and operates lever 83, the result being cable 82 rotates cranky shaft 62 backward, so as to simultaneously draw the trip-frame in the same direction and trip the catch or hook against the resistance of spring 77, through the mediun of' cam 62, from engagement with said shaft. At the instant this takes place the pick-up frame and parts carried thereby drop to the trackway` as shown in Fig. 3,the trip-frame by this time being withdrawn to substantially the position shown in said figure. The instant roller 32 strikes the trackway it revolves and through the mediumof the belt rotates rollerv 24, as hereinbefore described, which roller by suchrotation will tend to lift even a very small object and deposit it upon the platform of the pick-up frame. If the car is moving swiftly,`the person or object 'picked up may strike with more or less force against the guard and will be protected thereby from injury,such as would perhaps follow a forcible contact withvthe bumper. Should the motorman fail to depress rod 87 and a person be struck by the trip-frame, the latter under the impact will instantly be forced vbackward and through'its connection with rod 69 operate the crank-shaft and trip the catch or hook 75 from engagement with said shaft, which action is` instantly followed by the dropping of the pick-up frame, this result being followed by the automatic rescue of the person on the track way. In both cases the downward movement of the cross-bar 25 causes vthe swingframe to swing rearwardly until its cross-bar 43 occupies the position shown in Fig. 3,with relation to cross bar 25. This downward movement of the cross bar and rearward Amovement of said frame results in a forward pull upon the cable 53, which obviously shortens the distance between the hand-ring 60 and platform-opening 5,9. After the rescued person has been removed from the fender the latter is restored `to its original position by the motorman grasping ring 60 and pulling upward thereon, this action through the leveragie obtained by pulling from the top of pulley 54 resulting in raising the latter, and consequently the pick-up frame, and at the same time through the medium of cable 67 rotates the crank-shaft forwardly and readvances the trip-frame. Incidentally the action of cable 53 results in swinging the swing-frame downwardly and forwardly under the cross-bar of the pick-up frame, so as to force the catchor hook 75 forwardly until it is positively. Areengaged by gravity and by spring 77.,with the" crank-shaft, and elevated. ,Y

Should it be desired to couple the fenderequipped end of a car with the rear end of a therefore locks thefender .TOO

IIO

IZO

` to snap-hook 65.

preceding car, the motorman or conductor by preference first slides the trip-frame rearward and then disconnects hook 94 from hook 96 and folds the guard down upon the platform of the pick-up frame and at the same time slides hook 9T forwardly, so as to clear roller Q4, and then reverses such sliding' movement to cause the hook to engage the roller and lock the guard in the position described. He then pulls forward upon the fender, so as to stretch spring 40 until the rear end of link 88 occupies the vertical plane of the face of the bumper, this action being permitted because angle-plates 9 yield forwardly at hinge-points 10. "he operator while holding the parts in the position just referred to swings the fender` vertically upward until the cross-bar 25 is automatically engaged by the pivoted hook 99, which hook serves to lock the fender in its folded position, as shown clearly in Figs. 4 and 5. In this position it is completely removed from the path of the ordinary coupler (not shown) in order that such coupler may be engaged with the coupler of the car in advance in the usual or any preferred manner. To accommodate cars of varying heights or to support the fender at varying distances from the trackway, it is only necessary to manipulate the nuts 51 in the proper direction to raise or lower the hooks 48, as will be readily understood.

' To avoid the expense incidental to equipping cars with fenders at each end and also to facilitate the transference of the fender from one end of the carto the other, each platform will be provided with plates 3 and 50, a footrod 87, hooks 96 and 99, spring-actuated lever 83, a guide-frame 58, and a guide-pulley 58, and to remove the fender from one end and secure it to the other it is only necessary to remove nuts 51, uncouple the snap-hooks 56 and 65 from links 55 and 66, and then turn the turn-buttons 5 to register with slots 8. The fender can then be removed from position and placed upon the opposite end of the car, being resecured in position by the engagement of the slotted bracket with pins 4 and turnbuttons 5 of the bolts 3 at such end. The operator also by grasping hand-ring 60 draws the cables 57 and 67 up through the hole 59 and slips said cables down through the corresponding slot in the other platform and couples the snap-hook 56 to link 55 and link 66 The spring 40 is then removed from its original position and similarly secured under the platform to which the fender is now attached, and then hook 38 is engaged with the cross-bar 25. The fender can now be set in the position shown in Figs. l and 2.

From the above description it will be apparent that I have produced a car-fender possessing the features of advantage enumerated as desirable in the statement of the invention and which is obviously susceptible of modification as regards the form, proportion, detail construction, and arrangement of the parts without departing from the principle of construction involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. In a device of the character described, the combination with a car, of a pivoted pick-up frame, a swing-frame suitably supported and connected to the car, a catch carried by the swing-frame, means carried by the pick-up frame for engagement by the catch, and means to trip said catch from engagement with said means.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination with a car, of a pivoted pick-up frame, a swing-frame suitably supported and connected to thc car, a catch carried by the swing-frame, means carried by the pick-up frame for engagement by the catch, a movable device carried by the car, and a connection between the same and the means to effect the disengagement of the latter from the catch.

3. Ina device ofthe character described, the combination with a car` of a pivoted pick-up frame, a swing-frame suitably supported and connected to the car, a catch carried by the swing-frame, means carried by the pick-up frame for engagement by the catch, and a movable trip-frame -to effect the disengagement of said means from the catch.

4. Inadevice of the character described, the combination with a car, of a pivoted pick-up frame, a swing-frame suitably supported and connected to the car, a catch carried by the swing-frame, means carried by the pick-up frame for engagement by the catch, a lever mounted on the car, and a flexible connection between said lever and said means.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination with a car, of a pivoted pick-up frame, a swing-frame suitably supported and connected to the car, a catch carried by the swing-frame, means carried by the pick-up frame for engagement by the catch, a lever mounted on the car, a fiexible connection between said lever and said means, and a yieldingly-elevated foot-rod for operating said lever to effect the disengagement of said means from the catch.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination with a car, of a pivoted pick-up frame, a swing-frame suitably supported and connected to the car, a catch carried by the swing-frame, means carried by the pick-up frame for engagement by the catch, means to trip said catch from engagement with said means, and a roller carried by and below the pick-up frame for contact with the trackway. 7. In adevice of the character described, the combination with a car, of a pivoted pick-up IOO IOS

ITO

- up frame for contact with the trackway, and

frame, a swing-frame suitably supported anda roller atthe frontend of the pick-up frame and means whereby rotation of the first-named roller by contact with the trackway shall rotate the other roller in the opposite direction.

8. Inadevice of the character described, the combination with a car of a pivoted pick-up frame, a swing-frame suitably supported and connected to the car, a catch carried by the swing-frame, means carried by the pick-up frame for engagement by the catch, means to trip said catch from engagement with said means, a roller carried by and below the pickup frame for contact with the trackway, a roller at the front end of the pick-up frame, and means whereby rotation of the first-named roller by contact with the trackway shall rotate the other roller in the opposite direction, and a cross belt connection between said rollers.

9. In adevice of the character described,the combination with a car, of a pivoted pick-up frame, a. swing-frame suitably pivoted and connected rto the car, a catch pivoted. to the swing-frame for movement in the vertical plane, a shaft journaled in the pick-up frame and engaged bythe catch and provided with a cam portion, and means to rotate said shaft and cause the cam to trip the catch from the shaft.

10. In a device of the character described, the combination with a car, of a pivoted pickup frame, a swing-frame suitably pivoted and connected to the car, a catch pivoted to the swing-frame for movement in a vertical plane, a shaft journaled in the pick-up frame and engaged by the catch and provided with a cam portion and with an upwardlyprojecting crank, a lever, la flexible connection between said lever and the crank-portion of the shaft, and means to operate said lever and swing said crank rearwardly to cause the cam to trip the catch from engagement with the shaft.

11. In a device of the character described, the combination with a car, of a pivoted pickup frame, a swing-frame suitably pivoted and connected to the car, a catch pivoted to the swing-frame for movement in a vertical plane, a shaft journaled in the pick-up frame and engaged by the catch and provided with acam portion and with an upwardly projecting crank, a lever, a flexible connection .between said lever and the crank portion of the shaft, means to operate said lever and swing said crank rearwardly to cause the cam to trip the catch from engagement vwith the shaft, and a slide-frame resting on and projecting beyond the front end of the pick-up frame and pivotally connected at its rear end lto said crank.

, 12. In a device of the character described,L

the combination with a car of a pick-up frame,

swing-plates pivotally carrying the pick-upV frame at their lower en ds, and means for holding the pick-up frame pressed yieldingly rearward. y

13. In a device of the character described, the combination with a car of a pick-up frame,

swing-plates pivotally carrying the pick-up" frame at their lower ends, means for holding the pick-up framev pressed yieldingly rearward, and flexible connections suspended from the car and supporting the front end of the pick-up frame a suitable distance above the trackway. t

14. In a device of the character described, the combination with a car, of a pick-up frame supported for movement toward and from the car and also for pivotal movement in a vertical plane, a swing-frame pivoted on the pickup frame, a catch carried by the swing-frame, means carried by the pick-up frame and enelevated, and a flexibleV connection between the car and said swing-frame.

15. In a device of the character described, the combination with a car, of a pick-up frame supported -for movement toward and from the car and also for pivotal movement in averti- `cal plane, arswing-frame pivoted on the pickup frame, a catch carried by the swing-frame, means carried by the pick-up frame and engaged by said catch to lock the pick-up frame elevated, a iiexible connection between the car elevated, a flexible connection betweenA the car and said swing-frame, means for tripping the catch from engagement with the firstnamed means to permit the pick-up frame to swing downward at its front end, and `means to reelevate the pick-up frame.

17. In a device of the character described,y

the combination with acar, of a pick-up frame supported for movement toward and from the car and also for pivotal movement in a vertical plane, a swing-frame pivoted on the, pickup frame, a catch carried by the swing-frame, means carried by the pick-up frame and engaged by said catch to lock the pick-up frame elevated, a flexible connection between the car and said swing-frame, means for tripping the catch from engagement with the first-named means to permit thepick-up frame toswing gaged by said catch, to lock the pick-up frame IOO IIO

downward at its front end, and means to operate the swing-frame and thereby reelevate the pick-up frame and cause the rengagement of the catch and the first-named means.

18. In a device of the character described,

` elevated, a ieXible connection between the car and said swing-frame, means for tripping the catch from engagement with the lirstnamed means to permit the pick-up frame to swing downward at its frontend, a crank projecting from the swing-frame, a pulley journaled on the pick-up frame, and a cable engaging said pulley and attached to said arm for swinging the swingframe back to its original position, and thereby relevating the pick-up frame and locking it in such position.

19. In a device of the character described, the combination with a car, of a piek-up frame supported for movement toward and from the car and also for pivotal movement in a vertical plane, a swing frame pivoted on the pick-up frame, a catch carried by the swingframe, means carried by the pick-up frame and engaged by said catch to lock the pickup frame elevated, a liexible connection between the car and said swing-frame, a tripframe connected to said means for moving rearward to disengage the catch therefrom to permit the pick-up frame to swing downward at its front end, a handle, and suitably-guided flexible connections between the handle and the swing-frame and the .first-named means for simultaneously relevating the piek-up frame, readvancing the trip-frame and etlecting the rengagement of the catch and said first-named means.

20. In a device of the character described, the combination witha car, of apivoted pickup frame, an upright guard pivoted on the pickeup frame, lugs projecting from the pickup frame in the path of said guard to prevent the latter swinging rearward toward the car, and a hook pivotally carried by the guard and detachably connected to the car to prevent the guard swinging forwardly.

21. In a device of the character described, the combination with a ear, of `a piek-up frame pivotally supported from the car so as to be foldable upward against the front end of the same, and provided with a cross-bar, a hook for engagement with the cross-bar to secure the pick-up frame in its folded position, a guard pivoted to the pick up frame and adapted to be folded against the latter, and an adjustable hook carried by the guard and adapted to engage the front end of the pickup frame to hold said parts liatly together.

22. In a device of the character described, the combination with a car, angle-plates secured thereto. angle-plates hinged to the lirstnalned angle-plates, a pick-up frame pivoted at its rear ends to said last-named angleplates, means for holding the pick-up frame yieldingly retracted, means for holding' its front end elevated a suitable distance, and means for tripping said holding means and permitting the front portion of the piek-up frame to drop to the track 'a5'.

Q3. In a device of the character described, the combination with a zar, angle-plates secured thereto, angle-plates hinged to the lirstnamed angle-plates, a pick-up frame pivoted at its rear end to said last-named angleplates, means for holding the piekup frame yieldingly retracted, means for holding' its front end elevated a suitable distance, means for tripping said holding means and permitting the front portion of the pick-np frame to drop to the trackway, and a guard pivoted to the piek-up frame and supported forward of the car.

24C. In a device of the character described, the combination with a car provided with plates having' upwardly-projecting pins and turn-buttons, plates having openings to be engaged by said pins and slots for engagement by the turn-buttons, plates pivotall ,vsnspended from the last-named plates, a pickup vtrame pivoted at its rear ends to the pivotally-snspended plates, means for holding its front end elevated a suitable distance and means for tripping said holding means and permitting the front portion of the pick-np frame to drop to the trackway.

25. In a device of the character described, the combination with a car provided with plates having upwardly-projecting pins and turn-buttons, plates having openings to be engaged by said pins and slots for engagement by the turn-buttons, plates pivotally suspended from the last-named plates, a pickup frame pivoted at its rear ends to the pivotally-suspended plates, means for holding its front end elevated a suitablel distance., means for tripping said holding mans and permitting the front portion of the pick-np frame to drop to the trackway, and means for relevating the front end of the pick-np trame and for securing it in its elevated position.

26. In a device of the character described, the combination with a er', plates projecting forwardly from the samediooks having threaded stems extending up through said plates, nuts engaging said threaded stems above the plates, a pick-up frame suitably pivoted, a

swing-frame con'iprising a cross-bar having parallel arms pivoted on the pick-up frame, links pivotally connected to said cross-bar, chains connecting said links and said hooks, a rock-shaftjournaled in the pick-np I'rame and provided with a cam portion, a catch pivoted lOO llO

at its rear end to the cross-bar of the swingshaft to effect the rengagement of the lattenIO frame and engaging'said rook-shaft, means and the catch. to operate said rock-shaft to cause its cam to In testimony whereof I aiiiX my signature in trip the catch and permit the pick-up frame the presence of two witnesses.

5 to drop at its front end and swing' the arms `of V the swing-frame downward and itsbody por- ERNES H' SLHULE tion rearward, and means for simultaneously Witnesses:

' elevating the pick-up frame and reversing the ED. BRUGGER,

swinging action oi' the swing-frame and rook- G. Y. THORPE. 

